David West and Hornets Not Close on Contract Extension (Yahoo! Sports)

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David West and Hornets Not Close on Contract Extension (Yahoo! Sports)

The future of the New Orleans Hornets has long been centered on Chris Paul, but much of this season – and beyond – hinges on the contract extension talks the franchise’s front office has entered into with forward David West.

New Orleans general manager Dell Demps has discussed the framework of a multiyear deal with West’s agents at Octagon, but the Hornets’ hopes of getting him signed prior to the Feb. 24 trade deadline is “not likely at all,” one source close to the talks told Yahoo! Sports.

David West can opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent.

West plans to opt out of the $7.5 million owed him in the final season of a five-year, $45 million contract and expects to command north of $10 million a season on the market, sources said.

“It’s hard to see an extension happening here,” one source said.

Demps said he and West have an agreement that they won’t speak publicly about any discussions, but the GM told Yahoo! Sports: “We’re happy with David and we want him here for a long time.”

For Demps, the question will be, should the Hornets consider trading West at the deadline out of fear of getting nothing back for one of the franchise’s cornerstone players? With the way the Hornets are playing – winners of eight straight, and now tied with Dallas for the fourth seed in the Western Conference – it’s a difficult proposition to break up this core prior to the playoffs. Nevertheless, West’s expiring contract could fetch the Hornets comparable talent with longer-term money owed to a player.

Demps would have a chance to make a sign-and-trade deal for West after the season, too. West has averaged 18.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and shot 51 percent for the Hornets this season. He’s played his entire eight-year career with the Hornets, but the chance to play for a championship contender appeals to him. The uncertainty surrounding the NBA taking over ownership of the Hornets, as well as the franchise’s potential relocation, leave a lot of unanswered questions for a player being asked to commit long-term to the franchise.

“Under the current labor deal, I think he’ll get that $10 million a year,” said one rival GM who would have interest in signing West. “But who knows under the next deal?”

West, 31, had a strong relationship with past GM Jeff Bower, who drafted him, and has grown fond of Demps and coach Monty Williams. Nevertheless, he’ll likely resist re-signing with the Hornets now to go into what will likely be a post-lockout free-agent market.

I would LOVE to get West her in Indy. People can say what they will about him "not complimenting" Hibbert's game, but considering West is an 8 year veteran and an All-Star (who just happened to run the pick & roll to perfection with Darren Collison last season), I think we should worry about how Hibbert should compliment West's game (if we were to go after him). Roy Hibbert, as much as I like him, is NOT going to be the centerpiece of the team. So if we have a chance to go out and get a legit All-Star caliber PF, we need to do everything we can to make it happen.

Create an ignore list. I know it may seem unneighborly. But you're here to talk about the Pacers, not argue with someone who's just looking for an argument. Most of the regular users on here make use (at least occasionally) of the "Ignore" feature. Just go to "Settings" -> "Edit Ignore List" and add the names.

Re: David West and Hornets Not Close on Contract Extension (Yahoo! Sports)

I would definitely love to get David West here on this team. A perfect pick-and-roll player, especially when he'd be back playing with DC, plus a guy who can probably hit the midrange J 95 out of 100 times, he would help us out tremendously. So what if he's starting to get a few years on him, I see now decline in him yet--I still see him increasing a little each year. If you haven't seen last night's highlights from the Hornets/Thunder game, GO CHECK THEM OUT--D-West owned the last minute (and the victory)!!!

Re: David West and Hornets Not Close on Contract Extension (Yahoo! Sports)

Hmm. The Bugs are looking for "comparable talent with longer-term money."

I don't think we can give them that.

Who can though? There aren't many "comparable" players available. At least in the rumors. Off the top of my head, I can think only of Rockets and Scola, Utah and Al Jefferson. But if they can't afford 10 mil per, they won't want those two.

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Re: David West and Hornets Not Close on Contract Extension (Yahoo! Sports)

A deal structured around Dunleavy and Hansbrough might interest them. Probably not enough but that's probably the least that New Orleans would take. I'm sure they'd rather have Danny and Hibbert but that ain't happening.

Larry is not coming back, he didn't have a meeting with Orlando for not reason, yeah he is coming back to the NBA but not to the Pacers, the notion that he is a taking a year off and then come back is absurd.

Re: David West and Hornets Not Close on Contract Extension (Yahoo! Sports)

Who can though? There aren't many "comparable" players available. At least in the rumors. Off the top of my head, I can think only of Rockets and Scola, Utah and Al Jefferson. But if they can't afford 10 mil per, they won't want those two.

Why don't we send them an expiring (TJ, Dun, Foster) and a Brandon Rush/Paul George and then send a first to New York and have NY send Randolph to New Orleans. They've got a bevy of trade exceptions they could use to keep their incoming within the appropriate range of West's outgoing. NY gets their first for Melo and we get West.

Re: David West and Hornets Not Close on Contract Extension (Yahoo! Sports)

Why don't we send them an expiring (TJ, Dun, Foster) and a Brandon Rush/Paul George and then send a first to New York and have NY send Randolph to New Orleans. They've got a bevy of trade exceptions they could use to keep their incoming within the appropriate range of West's outgoing. NY gets their first for Melo and we get West.